The spirit of mateship takes a blow at parliament

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Security guards at Parliament House have been banned from using
the word "mate" after a rumoured complaint from a coalition MP.

A parliamentary circular today warned security staff and
attendants against using the term when dealing with the public or
members of parliament.

Labor MPs labelled the ban un-Australian, while Prime Minister
John Howard - a bloke who has used the term to describe US
President George W Bush - said it was unworkable.

"It's absurd and impractical to prohibit the use of the word
'mate'," Mr Howard said through a spokesman.

Labor MP Roger Price brought the matter to public attention when
he asked House of Representatives Speaker David Hawker to
investigate the matter.

"Rumour has it that there was a complaint made by a coalition
member," Mr Price later told AAP.

"I believe that subsequent to that complaint a general warning
was issued to all security staff and attendants banning the use of
the word 'mate' in any dealings they might have with both members
of the public and senators and members."

He said the decision by the Department of Parliamentary Services
was nothing short of ridiculous.

"The staff don't get a say in the matter," Mr Price said.

"To make matters worse, news of the directive comes today of all
days, on Vietnam Veteran Day."

Liberal backbencher Bob Baldwin said he personally called almost
everyone mate and treated the word as a badge of honour.

"I think that people should get off their high horse and take a
reality check," Mr Baldwin told AAP.

"I have never seen anything so criminal in all my life. It's
part of the Australian vernacular. It's a term of endearment and of
mateship."

Fellow Liberal backbencher Mal Washer said mate could be
offensive in the wrong context.

"It's the way you say it," Dr Washer said.

"It can can be disrespectful - it's probably wiser to use some
other way to address people.

But Dr Washer said he had no problems with the word.

"I would have thought that mate was the nicest four-letter word
I've been called all year," he said.

Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek said the ban was
offensive.

"I can't tell you how offended I am by this. I think frankly
it's un-Australian," she told Seven News.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Wayne Swan said the ban was
absurd.

"But then again, the prime minister claims to be the worker's
best friend, look what's happening," he said.

Nationals MP Paul Neville said the guards could call him what
they liked.

"If they want to call me mate or buddy or something like that,
I'm not the least bit offended," Mr Neville said.

Secretary for the Department of Parliamentary Services Hilary
Penfold said security guards were asked not to refer to visitors as
mate in case they caused offence.

"There was a feeling that they perhaps just needed a reminder
that some informality, while it may be appropriate for some people,
it may not suit all our visitors," she told ABC TV.

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1123958176455-smh.com.auhttp://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-spirit-of-mateship-takes-a-blow-at-parliament/2005/08/18/1123958176455.htmlsmh.com.auAAP2005-08-18The spirit of mateship takes a blow at parliamentNational